Track and Field: Former Norristown star remembers glory days

By DENNY DYROFF, For The Times Herald

Saturday, March 23, 2013

WEST NORRITON – A new chapter in the long and glorious history of Norristown High track and field began Friday afternoon when the boys team hosted Cheltenham High in a Suburban One League American Conference dual meet.

The key word here is “hosted.” Friday’s meet was the first home track meet at Norristown Area High School in more than 20 years — the first since the high school relocated from Norristown’s North End to West Norriton.

The special day was celebrated with a pre-meet event that featured a welcome address by school superintendent Dr. Janet Samuels and a short speech by special guest Ron Livers.

Livers was one of Norristown High’s most recognized track and field athletes when he competed. He fondly remembered the days when Norristown was a monster in area track — when a track team coming to Norristown to face the Eagles would experience the same feelings as a boys basketball team playing at Chester or a swim team going to Germantown Academy for a meet.

At the conclusion of his speech, Livers said, “What I’m hoping this day starts is the fact when I was competing for Norristown High — when we would go to a meet we would be getting off the bus we could hear our competitors saying, ‘that’s Norristown.’”

Livers was a big part of the Eagles’ former glory days. He was the PIAA triple jump champion in 1972 and 1973 and the state high jump champion in 1973. At San Jose State University he was a three-time NCAA triple jump champion and set a world record for best triple jump and high jump in the same meet.

“We all competed at the historic Roosevelt Field,” said Livers, who was joined at the ceremony by his twin brother Don Livers (who was also a track and field standout at Norristown and San Jose State.

“I remember holding the sweats of the great Ernie Hadrick Jr. and his fellow teammates at the starting line and running to the finish to give them their sweats after the race. The district championship was held there back then.

“Now, it is the changing of an era. A nice track like this has been long overdue. Now, I hope they get the stadium completed and hold good events here. I really would love to see the district track championships return to Norristown.”

Livers paid tribute to many of Norristown’s former track and field greats, including Netta Young and Tony Darden — both of whom won PIAA state team championships by them in the mid-1970s.

“The history is long and fabled with Olympians Al Cantello, Josh Culbreath, the great Charles Blockson and coach Pete Lewis,” said Livers, who is now an assistant coach at Perkiomen Valley High.

“My history started with my father Lawrence A. Livers Sr. running and hurdling for NHS in the early 1940’s and my oldest brother Lawrence A. Livers Jr. running and hurdling for NHS from 1959-61 and my twin brother and myself competing for NHS from 1970-73.”

In his recollections, Livers also referenced the state title team for which he and his brother competed a few years prior to Darden and Young’s state titles.

“We are still waiting for the banner to be hung in the gym for our 1973 championship,” Livers said to Norristown Area Athletic Director Chuck Knowles, who was in attendance at Friday’s ceremony.

Waiting and winning — all parts of Norristown High’s fabled track history.